Posted on 04/02/2006 8:07:47 PM PDT by quidnunc
The Richmond Times-Dispatch, in a thoughtful editorial yesterday, called attention to the email sent out by La Raza, the biggest Latino organization in the United States, first mentioned by The Corner last Thursday:
The e-mail refers to congressional legislation that would, among other things, (a) provide grants to immigrants taking English classes, (b) permit those who gain English proficiency to apply for citizenship one year early, and (c) provide grants to groups offering instruction in U.S. civics and American history. These ideas hardly seem provocative; learning English and American civics used to be something immigrants did enthusiastically. The e-mail about the bill, however, warns that "while it doesn't overtly mention assimilation, it is very strong on the patriotism and traditional American values language in a way which is potentially dangerous to our communities."
(More on the memo here.)
It sounds like La Raza has proclaimed itself un-American, don't you think? They don't want their people to assimilate, and they don't seem to like "patriotism" or "traditional American values."
Somebody might mention this to President Bush…
-snip-
Posted at 07:32 PM
"The wagon trains of Americans moving into Mexican California, they weren't illegals?"
Good point.. and look what allowing illegal immigration got them. We should learn from it and not make the same mistake.
Actually, they weren't 'illegals'. Many were given land grants, because the government of Mexico was encouraging settlement by just about everyone who could do anything productive:
Non- Spanish or Non- Mexican settlers like John Marsh, John Sutter, John Bidwell, and others were awarded large land grants.
Mexico wanted money coming in from their California territory, and they were more than willing to 'give away' land that they thought was pretty much useless to them, and they welcomed settlers with open arms.
Then in 1848 (prior to the 1849 discovery of gold and the ensuing rush of "Americans" to settle in California,) the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California to the United States. So, in general, to call the early 'american' settlers of California is actually not correct.
...to call 'american' settlers of California ILLEGALS is actually not correct.
Just what was the Mexican-American War fought over?
No, actually, you are not being ignored, you are a part of us already. One of the worst parts of all of this is how people are now looking at legal immigrants and throwing them in with the illegal. The overwhelming numbers of the illegals has made it almost impossible for the legal immigrants to get in. That is what is so fundementally unfair about all of this.
Snip: REAL ESTATE AND TIME-SHARES: U.S. citizens should be aware of the risks inherent in purchasing real estate in Mexico, and should exercise extreme caution before entering into any form of commitment to invest in property there. Investors should hire competent Mexican legal counsel when contemplating any real estate investment.
Mexican laws and practices regarding real estate differ substantially from those in the United States. Foreigners who purchase property in Mexico may find that property disputes with Mexican citizens may not be treated evenhandedly by Mexican criminal justice authorities and in the courts. (Clck here to see: entire text:)
It's literally stunning that there are no voices being aired in the media which represent those Americans of Mexican decent who didn't either break the laws or want to see California handed back to Mexico. The media doesn't want to see Arabs who love America or Mexicans who love America. Kind of gets to the problem with the media doesn't it? They can't stand to see people who love America.
Ok, I'm kind of trying to dredge up a memory here that wasn't very precise (by me) in the first place... So, please don't 'bite my head off' if I'm wrong;
But it seems to me that I remember from my pre-revisionist history that the Mexican-American War was fought primarily over Texas and California... But not because "american illegals" invaded them; The LEGAL settlers (by the then Government of Mexico's own definition) in both Texas and California (Hispanic and Non hispanic alike, in a general majority) voted to secede from Mexico's rule; either to become independent states or to become part of the USA.
Most of the Alcaldes, the Dons etc, the local mexican/hispanic elite, as well as the majority of the every day 'gringos' of both areas understood that their best financial futures were with the US, rather than Mexico which was sucking them dry through taxes, etc.
So, Remember the Alamo and all that. (There were a good many 'hispanics' fighting INSIDE the Alamo, and running around WITH Sam Houston, by the way).
When Mexico sent troops north to make sure that California and Texas STAYED under their rule, that coincided with the "Manifest Destiny" policy of the US government and people; So, with the excuse of supporting the freedom of the Californios and Texicans to secede from Mexico; President Polk eventually sent American Troops to aid the 'militias' of California and Texas (and the rest of the Southwest in general).
Sure, greed and the desire of America to expand are part of it, but you have to remember that none of the Southwest was particularly valuable in those days. There were a few places that produced a little wealth here and there but nothing really worth fighting for on strictly economic terms.... (Had they found gold at Sutter's Mill a few years earlier, that might have started the Mexican-American War all by itself, and made Mexico fight more seriously... But it didn't.... And so it was a short war that just wasn't important enough for Mexico to put up more than a token fight....
In 1845 Mexico probably COULD have won if they really, really wanted to expend the necessary resources. Their military was better trained and better equipped than ours, with fewer logistics problems, IMHO.
Anyway, that's the way I remember it; I'll admit I could be wrong about significant parts.
"My parents came her legally (paying a dear price for it, I might add), and have taught all 7 of thier children to become solid, American citizens."
It is people like you (and your parents) who make America work.
In 28 + years of service I have seen intense loyalty and devotion to the American dream by people who came to this country with the idea of becoming American. They pass that on to their children. They (and your family) make a proud additon to the fabric of America.
In all the retoric, many on this site (myself inlcuded) talk about Illegals, but have repect for those who work to become legal immagrants then American citizens.
Thank you and to my other fellow freepers who have responded so kindly to my post. I've always disliked La Raza and other organizations of the same ilk because of thier "representation" of Hispanics. It would be like the media asserting that the ACLU represents all caucasions or that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton represent all blacks. La Raza and other organizations like them get thier power and influence from un-educated hispanics or liberal hispanics or worse, liberal-psuedo-intellectual hispanics. I've been called an elitist by some liberal-leaning hispanics because of my hard-core conservative, USA-Lovin' views. I'm not an elitist. I'm a practical, thinking person with more than 1/2 a brain that I'm not afraid to use. I also happen to love and respect my hispanic heritage. This love of heritage, however, extends to the country I was born in and which continues to be the greatest nation on earth. This country is a divine gift to humanity and should be treated as such.
There are immigration laws which were passed for a good reason and they are being broken by MILLIONS of trespassers. That lawlessness begets more lawlessness and undermines respect for the entire American system. It makes a mockery of citizenship, sovereignty and the rule of law.
Our country will cease to exist without control of its borders.
A nation that cannot control its borders will not long remain a nation.
Your parents were/are great people. They are to be honored. There must be many more like them among the illegal immigrants, but their status forces them to remain in the shadows. I personally love the Mexican culture, but I cannot replace my own with it. The roots of our problem is the Mexican government corruption that creates conditions of high unemployment, low wages, and all the other third world conditions. If millions of your people are forced back to Mexico the government will quickly collapse. Maybe that would be a good thing in the long run. My position is hardening because I refuse to let this mess destroy my country. Thank you for your service sir. God bless you and your family!
Not ignored, appreciated, but as in the ol' saw---The good a man does dies with him etc etc ....My folks were 'boat people','Ellis Island people' also....
I think your account is the same as mine, considering! What some, not all Latinos in the USofA today claim is that the will "TAKE BACK" the southwest. If they want to "TAKE BACK" then they feel that someone or something "TOOK AWAY"! For decades the American LEFT has yapped that the "evil" whiteman took away land from rightful owners in North America. My answer has been "what ever is the greatest good for the greatest number" should pervail.
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